JAMES God forbid, Maire Hourican, that I'd ask your sister to wait that length. MAIRE She hasn't got a fortune. We were brought up different to farmers, and maybe we never gave thought to the like.
JAMES
She has what's better than a fortune.
MAIRE
Why aren't your sisters married off?
JAMES
Big fortunes are expected with them.
MAIRE And they look to your wife to bring a big fortune into the house?
JAMES
Ay, they do that.
MAIRE You, James, ought to have some control in the house. You're the only son. Your father is well off. Get him to fortune off your sisters, and then bring Anne to the house.
JAMES
But how could I get father to fortune off the girls?
MAIRE How? By wakening up. You have the right. When we have the right, we ought to be able to do anything we like with the people around us.
JAMES
I give in to the truth of that, Maire.